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Overview :
Hikers/walkers usually start from Chinook Campground and loop across the campground bridge to Loon Lake and return over the CCC Bridge... more » and up the Secesh River. It is about 10 miles round trip. It is about a mile, either way, to the bomber crash site from the Loon Lake outlet.

Hikers/walkers also hike to the Dredge Pond/Ruby Meadows area from the Ruby Meadows Trail Head. It is about 5 miles round trip.

Mountain bikers commonly leave one vehicle at one of the trail heads and ferry to the other trail head to start the ride.

It is about a 22 mile round trip for horse back riders riding from the Ruby Meadows Trail Head to Loon Lake.

Ruby Meadows is an ATV trail head, but the trail is only open for about five miles one way. less «

Tips:
Depending on the seasons' snowfall, the trails are usually clear by July and open through September, sometimes a little longer. It... more » gets cold in October.

Clothing depends on the weather, but it usually freezes at night all summer. Thunder storms are possible at any time.

Take drinking water with you as none of the ground water in this area is safe to drink without filtering or boiling.

Wild animals, including moose, elk, deer, bear, wolves, cougars, river otters, pine marten, and others are in the area. I have seen both moose and river otters in Loon Lake and at the Chinook Campground in the river. Salmon usually arrive in the middle of August. This is also "Bear Country".

Be aware that wolves are very territorial and may attack any dogs with you. Moose cows with calves may attack anything. Don't push your luck with moose!

Read and abide by the information at the trail heads on how to interact with horses and pack stock you may encounter.

Points of Interest

This is a fee campground and currently costs $10 per day. Potable water, picnic tables, and outdoor vault toilets are available. RVs are allowed in the upper campground.

Trail head parking is free.

Horses are allowed in the upper campground and metal horse hitching rails are... More provided.Less

2. CCC Bridge over Secesh River

Elevation:5520'

3. Loon Lake

The outlet side of Loon Lake. After crossing the outlet, there is a trail around the east side of the lake to the bomber crash site.

There is also a trail to the bomber on the west side of the lake, crossing the inlet to the lake.

There is a signboard about the crash just west of the outlet.

4. B23 Bomber

The bomber crash landed on the frozen lake in 1943. There is a signboard at this site.

This is a YouTube link to the crash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB3sEdj5qCE&list=UU96vjTgr3e5Rrb8hkHkfYIg&index=31&feature=plcp

5. Loon Lake Trail Bridge

Pack bridge over Victor Creek on Loon Lake Trail.

This is an important landmark in this area because the Chinook, Ruby Meadows, and Victor Creek trails all intersect just north of this bridge. Don't get lost!

The trail returning to Chinook C.G. is the one continuing north and east uphill. Every year, for the past 24 years, I and/or my friends... More have discovered hikers lost that missed this turn-off. The trails are all signed.

Some made it to the Ruby Meadows Trail Head and discovered they were still about 14 miles from their vehicles at the Chinook Campground. We have ferried some on our dirt bikes several miles to the trail head and then in our trucks to Chinook.Less

6. Victor Creek Trail Bridge

Pack bridge crosses Willow Basket Creek just above the confluence with Victor Creek. This is the Victor Creek Trail #81.

If you are in route to Chinook Campground and take this trail, after climbing over Victor Peak, you will reach the pavement and be about 22 miles from Chinook.

7. Trappers Cabin

The first part of this trail may not be marked. It was just constructed by the USFS and appears to be open to hiking, biking, and horseback at this time. The Trapper's Cabin is about 1/2 mile from the main trail.

8. Dredge Pond

This pond was made by a gold mining dredge. The gravel to the northeast indicates the amount of mining. The bridge is over Ruby Creek. There is a small metal part of the dredge on the northwest side of the pond.

9. Ruby Meadows

Ruby Meadows starts here and follows the west side of Ruby Creek for about a mile. It is boggy and overgrown. There was a road you could travel around the west side of the meadow, but the USFS destroyed it in 2011.

Ruby Meadows gets its name from the garnets found in the area.

10. Murder Cabin

A double murder was committed here in 1985.

The following Everytrail Trip has details of this heinous crime: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=932359

Be sure to scroll down to the comments on this excellent Everytrail Trip.

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